§ LORD AMMONMy Lords, I think, for the general convenience of your Lordships I should make a short statement on business before we proceed with the Orders of the Day. As your Lordships are aware, it is proposed to sit on Monday next, December 16, when we shall ask the House to take as first business a debate upon India, on a notice by the noble and learned Viscount, Lord Simon, in place of the Motion of Lord Altrincham on Palestine which has been postponed till after the Christmas Recess. A Motion will appear on the Paper on Monday in the Leader's name asking that the India business shall be taken as first Order. I am sure the House will be glad to learn that we shall be able to meet next week on Monday and on Thursday at 2.30 p.m. instead of at 4 p.m. as the House will not be meeting for judicial business on those afternoons.
On Tuesday, the principal business will be the Second Reading of the Companies Bill while there are also Motions on river pollution which we shall hope to reach that day. On Wednesday there is a Motion on the expansion of the Civil Service, as well as other business. On Thursday, as I have already informed your Lordships, we shall meet at 2.30 p.m. when we shall take the Second Reading of the Air Navigation Bill, and after that, the Motion of the noble Lord, Lord Beveridge, on the problem of displaced persons in Europe. A Royal Commission is expected that afternoon to give assent to various Bills. We hope that business will enable the House to adjourn on Thursday evening for the Christmas Recess, until 2.30 on Tuesday afternoon, the 21st January next.